THE Hadrian League’s Player of the Year, Hexham’s Sean Heads, took the George Howarth Trophy for winning the Westerhope Open after a play-off yesterday.

After the regulation 36 holes in the scratch competition, Heads and Heworth’s Brian Ross, both county players, were tied on 141, Ross returning a six-under 66 in the afternoon.

In the three-hole strokeplay play-off, Heads returned a birdie and two pars to beat Ross 10-13. Tom Dunbar won the Durham County Second Division Championship by three shots when he shot 78 at Seaton Carew and Whickham will meet Boldon in the final of the Clark Cup, the county’s knock-out competition at Durham City on September 9.

Whickham beat Chester-le-Street 4-1 in their semi-final but Boldon had to battle hard to beat Billingham 3-2 and Brett McAllister’s one hole win over Tony Littlefair was crucial. Meanwhile, Durham are organising a celebrity am-am tournament to raise money to boost their county coaching at Consett on September 5.

The day includes golf with celebrities and county team members, tea/coffee on arrival, food and drink on the course, lunch and the prize giving in the evening. Entry fee is #180 per team of three. Entry with a cheque made payable to Durham County Golf Union should be sent to Graham Hope, 7 Merrion Close, Moorside, Sunderland SR3 2QP with players names, handicaps and address/email at which they can be contacted. Meanwhile, Ray Sentance is obviously getting too much golf since he retired as secretary of the NE and NW PGA. With his partner Ken Payne, he won the Northumberland County Centenary Competition at the Northumberland Club with a score of 69 points.

The winners of the team event among the Northern Counties officials were Northumberland President Brian Aisbitt and secretary Elliott Procter also with 69 points.

THE first Northumberland Three-Day Championship, linking Bellingham, Rothbury and Alnwick, has been hailed a success. Coun John Riddle, Chairman of the Northumberland National Park presented the trophies to winning pair Bedlington’s Mark Haefner and Billy Dobson who scored 119 points, six ahead of City of Newcastle’s Paul Henderson and Les English.

Penrith’s James Housby landed himself a trip to play in the Nick Faldo Junior Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor finishing joint winner of the Under-21 boys section in the regional final at The Roxburghe.